Retrogrades
In 2022, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 14 to February 4, from May 10 to June 3, from September 10 to October 2, from December 29 to January 18, 2023. Venus: from December 19, 2021 to January 29. Mars: from October 30 to January 12, 2023. London time.
from January 14 to February 4
Stops and turns back on January 14 at 11:41, at 10°20' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 4 at 04:12, at 24°22' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 29, 2021 to February 24; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from May 10 to June 3
Stops and turns back on May 10 at 12:47, at 4°51' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 3 at 09:00, at 26°05' Taurus
Shadow: from April 26 to June 18; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from September 10 to October 2
Stops and turns back on September 10 at 04:38, at 8°55' Libra
Moves forward again on October 2 at 10:07, at 24°11' Virgo
Shadow: from August 20 to October 17; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 29 to January 18, 2023
Stops and turns back on December 29 at 09:31, at 24°21' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 18, 2023 at 13:11, at 8°08' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 12 to February 7, 2023; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 19, 2021 to January 29
Stops and turns back on December 19, 2021 at 10:35, at 26°29' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 29 at 08:45, at 11°04' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 17, 2021 to March 2; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 30 to January 12, 2023
Stops and turns back on October 30 at 13:25, at 25°36' Gemini
Moves forward again on January 12, 2023 at 20:56, at 8°07' Gemini
Shadow: from September 4 to March 16, 2023; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from July 28 to November 23
Stops and turns back on July 28 at 21:37, at 8°43' Aries
Moves forward again on November 23 at 23:02, at 28°47' Pisces
from June 4 to October 23
Stops and turns back on June 4 at 22:46, at 25°15' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 23 at 05:07, at 18°35' Aquarius
from August 20, 2021 to January 18
Stops and turns back on August 20, 2021 at 02:40, at 14°47' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 18 at 15:25, at 10°49' Taurus
from August 24 to January 22, 2023
Stops and turns back on August 24 at 14:53, at 18°55' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 22, 2023 at 22:58, at 14°56' Taurus
from June 28 to December 4
Stops and turns back on June 28 at 08:54, at 25°26' Pisces
Moves forward again on December 4 at 00:15, at 22°38' Pisces
from April 29 to October 8
Stops and turns back on April 29 at 19:35, at 28°35' Capricorn
Moves forward again on October 8 at 22:55, at 26°06' Capricorn
In 2022, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 14 to February 4, from May 10 to June 3, from September 10 to October 2, from December 29 to January 18, 2023. London time.
Yes: from December 19, 2021 to January 29. London time.
Yes: from October 30 to January 12, 2023. London time.
A planet never moves backwards. But Earth and the planet orbit the Sun at different speeds: when one overtakes the other, the planet, seen from here, seems to slow down, stop, back up for a few weeks, then move forward again. It's a perspective effect, regular and predictable centuries in advance.
In astrology, a retrograde planet invites you to go back over what it stands for: for Mercury, the planet of communication, it's a time to reread, review and repair rather than start something new. It's a symbolic reading: nothing proves that Mercury retrograde makes devices break down, but the advice to reread before you hit send always helps.
The shadow, for Mercury, Venus and Mars: the planet covers the same degrees three times, moving forward, backward, then forward again. Some astrologers already see the retrograde's theme in the shadow: a build-up before, a wrap-up after.
A station is the moment the planet seems to stop in the sky, before backing up or moving forward again. We look for it day by day, then refine it to the second with the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA ephemerides); the dates are checked against a second, independent calculation (Skyfield).